Anastasiya B.
Misleading 24-Hour Cancellation Policy Cost Me $2,497
I wanted to share my experience with Capital One Travel in case it helps others before booking. On May 28, 2026, I booked a flight and hotel package through Capital One Travel totaling $2,497. During checkout, the website prominently displayed “Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours.” Relying on that information, I completed the booking. Just four hours later, I decided to cancel the trip, believing I was well within the advertised cancellation window. After canceling, I noticed the charge was still pending on my Capital One card. I immediately contacted Capital One Travel, and the representative attempted to process a refund but was unsuccessful. They contacted the hotel and told me they would follow up. I later received confirmation that my reservation had been canceled, but the hotel refused to issue a refund. Over the next several weeks, I spent hours calling Capital One Travel, the dispute department, and attempting to contact the hotel myself. I was repeatedly told that Capital One Travel was waiting on the hotel to respond. I was also instructed by the dispute team to wait until the charge posted before filing a dispute. Once I did, my dispute was ultimately denied after the hotel responded. What frustrated me most was being told afterward that the 24-hour cancellation only applied to the flight. As a first-time Capital One Travel customer, there was nothing during checkout that clearly communicated that the hotel would still be non-refundable despite the prominent “Free Cancellation Within 24 Hours” message. Had that been made clear, I never would have completed the booking. I have screenshots showing the cancellation policy that was displayed during booking and documentation showing that I canceled just four hours after making the reservation. This experience left me out $2,497 despite canceling almost immediately and making every effort to resolve the issue through the proper channels. I expected much better from Capital One Travel and hope they improve the clarity of their booking policies so other customers don’t end up in the same situation.